Caretaker bishop appointed for Diocese of Toowoomba

The Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, Bishop Brian Finnigan, has been appointed Apostolic Administrator for the Toowoomba Diocese foloowing the retirement of Bishop William Morris, the Apostolic Nunciature in Australia has announced in a media release.

In a separate pastoral statement, Bishop Finnigan said he has accepted the caretaker appointment "to ensure that the Pope's concern for the ongoing pastoral care of the Diocese could be fulfilled".

"I am grateful for the generous and kind welcome of Bishop Bill Morris, who has confidence that the dedication of the priests, religious and other leaders of agencies, etc will continue, and will be supportive of my role," he wrote.

"In every significant change, various people have mixed feelings where there can be anger and disappointment on the one hand and peace and hope on the other," he added.

"Hopefully there can be growth, whatever the feelings, as we all hear the call for reconciliation, conversion, forgiveness, service and the Lord's desire that we advance towards fullness of life."

Bishop Finnigan said the diocese will "fulfil its responsibilities in caring for Bishop Morris as the Emeritus Bishop of Toowoomba".

The Ipswich Advertiser reports that a candle-light vigil procession in support of Bishop Morris will take place tonight from 5.30pm through the Toowoomba city streets.

The vigil will leave outside the Bishop's House in Lindsay Street, Toowoomba and is open to people of all faiths throughout Toowoomba, the Darling Downs and south Queensland, to show solidarity "for a deposed leader of their community", said the report.

A report in the Courier-Mail said Bishop Morris's downfall was due to a gang of right-wing Catholics, dubbed the "Temple police".

The group, which allegedly travelled around parishes to spy on progressive priests who do not toe the Vatican line, was believed to be involved in the popular priest's ousting, the paper said.

But the man accused of heading the cohort of conservative Catholics, Richard Stokes, said the accused "Temple police" were a "figment of the imagination": "I know other people who think like me but we're all individuals."

"When I write to Rome, and I do write to Rome, and I get answers, all we're concerned about is if it's done wrong, we say this is what happened," Mr Stokes said. "When you have a priest who is disobedient, it is an offence against God."

Mr Stokes denied having any involvement in the downfall of Bishop Morris, the report added.

Source